Big thaw

Since this morning, the ice has vanished from large sections of the lake. The swans can now swim right up to our pier. They're so graceful, and it's fun to watch them.

Some dear friends from Michigan stopped in for a visit this afternoon, and Keith, Gavin, and Calli joined us for dinner this evening. (Karin is judging for moot court at her law school this evening.) It's been so great to be with people we love. Grandson James and his wife, with our two great grandchildren, will be here tomorrow. I'm so excited.

Keith has begun reading the Gospel of John at dinnertime. Tonight we heard chapter two. After Jesus did and said amazing things, the text says first that His disciples believed in Him, and then that the people believed in Him. Knowing that just a couple of years later, His disciples would run away in fear and the people would clamor for His death makes one question the quality of their earlier belief. At the same time, it encourages patience with our own inconsistencies. Growing in faith is a challenging process that, for many of us, has a slow start and rocky patches along the way. I'm sure God understands that too. But it really does make Him sad when we don't trust Him.

I hope these days leading up to Easter are times of spiritual renewal and growth for all of us.

Love,
Carol